The Most Beautiful Places in All 50 States
The Most Beautiful Places in All 50 States
America is full of incredible sights, both natural and manmade, but not all sights are created equal. Dive into our list of the most beautiful places in all 50 states, and you might just find the perfect spot for your next adventure.
Alabama: Bellingrath Gardens & Home
This 65-acre garden, designed by prominent Mobile, Alabama, architect George B. Rogers, is full of brightly colored blooms and edible crops. Walter Bellingrath, the successful owner of a Coca Cola bottling franchise, and his wife Bessie, called the land home up until the 1950s. You can still tour their 10,000-square-foot mansion today.
Alaska: Creek Street
Although Creek Street was once what is politely referred to as a red light district, it currently serves as a scenic boardwalk with quaint tourist spots. Visitors of this beautiful and historic walkway can spot wildlife (think otters, eagles, and large schools of salmon) and browse quaint shops and galleries along the way.
Arizona: Antelope Canyon
The rock formations in Arizona's Antelope Canyon look absolutely surreal. Operated by the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department, the canyon was formed by fast-flowing flash flood waters. Bring your best camera if you decide to tour the location — the sunbeams play off the canyon walls to create colors you'll want to capture.
Arkansas: Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel
Designed by Fayetteville, Arkansas, architects E. Fay Jones and Maurice Jennings, the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel sits on a quiet hilltop overlooking Bella Vista's Lake Norwood. The chapel's 15 main arches stand 50 feet tall, and its walls are made of 4,460 square feet of glass. If you're already imagining your wedding or vow renewal taking place here, you're in luck: The chapel can be reserved for special ceremonies.
California: Sequoia National Park
You've heard of California's renowned redwoods, but did you know about its sequoias? While redwood trees stand as the tallest trees in the world, sequoias are the largest. The biggest sequoia in the world, a tree fondly known as General Sherman, can be found in the state's Sequoia National Park. Believe it or not, General Sherman is 275 feet tall, 102 feet wide, and weighs 2.7 million pounds.
Colorado: Mesa Verde National Park
Not only is Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park beautiful, but it also gives us a chance to travel back in time. The 5,000 archaeological sites and 600 cliff dwellings that make up Mesa Verde give us a closer look at the Ancestral Pueblo community that made the land their home for 700 years, and the park staff continues to preserve them today.
Connecticut: Mystic
A small seaside village with a ton of character, Mystic, Connecticut, is full of beautiful restaurants, galleries, shops and homes like the one pictured here. Visitors will also enjoy taking in the location's rich history: Settled in 1654, Mystic is home to what is known as the nation's leading maritime museum, Mystic Seaport.
Delaware: Hagley Museum and Library
What was once the site of the gunpowder works founded by E. I. du Pont is now a stunning educational center in Wilmington, Delaware. A Smithsonian affiliate, the Hagley Museum and Library works to further the study of business and technology. The institution also owns 235 acres of land along Delaware's Brandywine Creek.
Florida: Naples Pier
Located on the Gulf of Mexico in Naples, Florida, the Naples Pier serves as an excellent spot for fishing, dining, and simply taking in the ocean views. We're also willing to bet this pier is the perfect spot to watch a sunset.
Georgia: Bonaventure Cemetery
Savannah, Georgia is full of charm—and ghost stories. So of course it's home to some of the most beautiful cemeteries (yes, cemeteries; stay with me here!) in the world. All 100+ of Bonaventure Cemetery's acres are stun-ning! The stone carvings, the surrounding nature, the serene quiet—it's no wonder the over 170-year-old destination tops the list of must-sees for anyone staying in-town. Pro tip: Check out the schedule of free guided weekend tours by the Bonaventure Historical Society to plan your visit.
Hawaii: Sea Caves Along the Na Pali Coast
Along the island of Kauai's Na Pali Coast, you will find a number of gaping sea caves. Formed by harsh waves slamming into the island's porous lava rock, the caves now provide the perfect place for kayakers and other adventure-seekers to get up close and personal with the land.
Idaho: Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh
From April to June, Idaho's Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh is the epitome of a wildlife sanctuary. The Camas Creek is completely filled, a field of purple camas lilies begins to bloom, and waterfowl flock to the marshy area. Consider this spot a must-see if you enjoy bird-watching.
Illinois: Bahá'í House of Worship
The Bahá'í House of Worship House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, is the oldest of the seven Bahá'í temples that exist around the world today. With nine sides, a massive dome and a beautiful garden, the temple serves as a house of worship for believers in the Bahá'í faith, which was founded in Iran in the mid-1800s.
Indiana: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Believe it or not, Indiana is home to one of the country's most stunning beaches. With 15 miles along Lake Michigan's southern shore and 15,000 acres belonging to the national lakeshore area, the dunes offer visitors a variety of beautiful landscapes — dunes, wetlands, prairies, and forests included.
Iowa: Amana Colonies
The historic Amana Colonies are made up of a total of seven villages. Settled by German Pietists who lived a communal lifestyle until the 1930s, the colonies are approximately 150 years old. Today, they attract visitors with charming brick and clapboard homes, blooming gardens, and locally made beer and wine.
Kansas: Baker Wetlands
Located just south of Lawrence, Kansas, the Baker Wetlands are home to many types of wildlife. The water, which drains out to the Wakarusa River via Mink Creek, supplies the perfect environment for a variety of flowers, plants, birds, and insects. Visitors using the surrounding trails might just be able to catch a glimpse of a beautiful blue heron.
Kentucky: Mammoth Cave National Park
Underneath the rolling hills of Central Kentucky lies Mammoth Cave — the world's longest known cave system — where more than 400 miles of it have been explored. Visitors can tour the cave, then choose from nearby activities including horseback riding, biking, and camping.
Louisiana: Garden District
If Southern charm is what you're after, look no further than the Garden District of New Orleans. In this gorgeous neighborhood, classically constructed mansions and lush green gardens line the streets. You might even recognize a house or two from a movie you love — the Garden District has been featured in a number of films including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starring Brad Pitt.
Maine: Pemaquid Point Lighthouse
Located at the entrance to the Muscongus and Johns Bays, the stunning Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is going on 200 years old. (President John Quincy Adams commissioned the structure in 1827.) If you were ever a state quarter collector, you might also recognize this landmark from Maine's 25-cent piece.
Maryland: George Peabody Library
Baltimore's George Peabody Library is so much more than a home for books: It also serves as an extravagant wedding and event venue for those willing to rent the space. With five tiers of balconies and more than 300,000 volumes of reading material, the library offers an elegant setting for wining, dining, and, of course, researching.
Massachusetts: Motif No. 1 Fish Shack
Of all the charming structures and beautiful landscapes in the tiny coastal village of Rockport, this little red fish shack is perhaps the most well-known. Known as Motif No. 1 since early 20th-century illustrator Lester Hornby deemed it so, the building has been recreated by several artists.
Michigan: Turnip Rock
This fascinating rock formation off the coast of Port Austin, Michigan, came to be after many years of waves wore down the stone. The land surrounding Turnip Rock is privately owned, however, so the only way to get up close and personal with the island is via water. Note that the area is especially shallow, so stepping out of a kayak to take a beautiful photo like this one is doable.
Minnesota: Minnehaha Falls
As the centerpiece of Minneapolis's Minnehaha Regional Park, this 53-foot waterfall is an extraordinary find in the Twin Cities area. Its name, Minnehaha, comes from words meaning "waterfall" in the Dakota language, according to the Minnesota Parks & Recreation Board.
Mississippi: Red Bluff
Behold: The prettiest, coolest hike ever!! Nicknamed the "Little Grand Canyon," The scenic trail around the red clay canyon is full of stunning views, a creek, and...a road that the still-eroding canyon sort of ate up. Basically: It's Instagram Gold.
(Photo credit: IcknieldRidgeway.)
Missouri: Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Directly across the state from St. Louis's gleaming Gateway Arch is the equally stunning Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, located in the heart of downtown Kansas City. The 285,000-square-foot building, which was designed by architect Moshe Safdie and opened in 2011, regularly hosts operas and performances by the Kansas City Ballet and Kansas City Symphony.
Montana: Lake McDonald
As the largest lake in Montana's photogenic Glacier National Park, Lake McDonald spans 10 miles and sinks 472 feet deep. Formed by Ice Age-era glaciers, the lake has a still, reflective surface that provides the perfect mirror for the surrounding mountains. Visitors might even spot a bighorn sheep, elk, or black bear, as they are known to tour the area.
Nebraska: Holy Family Shrine
An isolated Catholic chapel, the marvelous Holy Family Shrine is located off Interstate 80 between Omaha and Lincoln in Nebraska. At its highest points, the chapel's roof reaches 49 feet tall, and the windowed walls give visitors a stretching view of the surrounding prairie. Although special ceremonies like weddings and baptisms are not permitted to be held at this location, guided tours are offered and a regular mass is held on Saturdays.
Nevada: Fly Geyser
Because the Fly Geyser was previously located on private land, travelers had to drive along Nevada State Route 34 to view it. Earlier this month, though, the Burning Man festival purchased the land, which means the formation will eventually be available for closer public viewing.
New Hampshire: Blair Covered Bridge
At 292 feet long, New Hampshire's rustic Blair Covered Bridge is the second longest in the state. The original bridge, which was built in 1829, burned down before the current bridge was constructed in 1869. Although it's been weathered and worn by travelers and hurricanes, the state of New Hampshire and the town of Campton continue to put in the effort to restore this historic site.
New Jersey: Island Beach State Park
New Jersey's Island Beach State Park, which spans nearly 10 miles of the Barnegat Peninsula, is a popular place for ocean swimming and surf fishing. And with its maritime forests, tidal marshes, and rolling sand dunes, the undeveloped barrier beach provides an incredible backdrop for these and other recreational activities.
New Mexico: White Sands
Although photos of New Mexico's rolling white sand dunes look almost too fantastic to be real, visitors can indeed find the White Sands National Monument in the heart of the Tularosa Basin. The sand is made of gypsum, which gives it its clean white color, and covers 275 square miles of desert. The photo opps — and opportunities for activities like sledding and hiking — are endless.
See more places in nature so beautiful you won't believe they're real.
New York: Ausable Chasm Bridge
Discovered in 1765 by a man named William Gilliland, the Ausable Chasm is sometimes referred to as "the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks." The remarkable vertical-walled canyon is made of 500-million-year-old rock and provides visitors with opportunities to hike, bike, raft, rock climb — or simply enjoy the magnificent view of the chasm and this stunning steel arch bridge.
North Carolina: Inn at Rodanthe
Does this oceanfront vacation home look familiar to you? If it does, you might have seen it in the 2008 Nicholas Sparks film starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane, Nights in Rodanthe. The Inn at Rodanthe was built in the 1980s, when it originally stood 400 feet from the Atlantic Ocean. But the water crept ever closer and the home was put in great danger, so it was moved to this location in 2010, where it's now available to rent.
North Dakota: Sunflower Fields
North Dakota grows more of these cheery blooms than any other state (51 percent of the nation's crop, to be exact), and you can find many fields of them growing in the center of the state. This sunflower field, located near Michigan City, North Dakota, is particularly beautiful, but wherever you choose to go to view the flowers is well worth the trip.
Ohio: Union Terminal
An Ohio State icon, Union Terminal stands in Cincinnati as a proud example of the Art Deco period. Visitors admire the 1933 building's large half-dome architecture and stunning fountain display, all of which cost $41 million to build. Visitors can tour the building and its many exhibits or, you know, take a train.
Oklahoma: Philbrook Museum
Today, the Philbrook Museum stands as a museum for modern and contemporary art and is a cultural institution in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In the 1930s, however, the artfully constructed building was home to oilman Waite Phillips and his wife, Genevieve. It was in 1938 that the couple gifted their 72-room mansion and its surrounding 23 acres to the city of Tulsa and asked that it be made into a center for the arts.
Oregon: Crater Lake
As the deepest and perhaps most pristine lake in the United States, Oregon's Crater Lake inspires awe in all who visit it. The body of water sits atop the volcanic Mount Mazama, which erupted 7,700 years ago and resulted in the formation of the lake. Now, fed by ice and snow, Crater Lake's water is some of the clearest in the world.
Pennsylvania: Boathouse Row
Boathouse Row along Philadelphia's Schuylkill River provides one of the city's most remarkable nighttime views. The 12 buildings making up the row house some of the city's local boating clubs, a recreation center, and a private social club.
Rhode Island: Cliff Walk
This 3.5-mile walk along the eastern shore of Newport, Rhode Island, merges natural with the architectural wonders of this coastal city. From the Cliff Walk path, walkers can take in the city's many historic and elaborate mansions, as well as local wildlife and shoreline views.
South Carolina: Angel Oak
Located on Johns Island, the massive live Angel Oak is a sight for any traveler to behold. Estimated to be somewhere between 400 and 500 years old, the oak is 66.5 feet tall, produces 17,200 square feet of shade and serves as the perfect stop on the way to a vacation on Kiawah and Seabrook Islands.
South Dakota: Spearfish Canyon
With its 1,000-foot limestone walls, Spearfish Canyon in South Dakota's Black Hills is home to a wide array of wildlife. Hoping to see a wild porcupine or bobcat in its natural habitat? This nature area, which also features the majestic Roughlock Falls, is your place.
Texas: Hamilton Pool Preserve
Just a short drive away from Austin, Texas, you'll find the magical (and historic) Hamilton Pool Preserve. Hamilton Creek spills out over a limestone overhang to create a 50-foot waterfall and underlying pool, which is a popular swimming spot. It's so popular, in fact, that Travis County Parks has started taking visitor reservations for it.
Tennessee: Cades Cove
This scenic valley is settled in the middle of Tennessee's section of the renowned Great Smoky Mountains. And all those hoping to tour Cades Cove need is a car: An 11-mile looped road circles through the valley and offers visitors picturesque views like the one you see here. Biking, hiking, and camping opportunities are also available.
Utah: Golden Cathedral Hiking Trail
Hikers, rejoice: This 9.2-mile trail in Utah's Neon Canyon will end with one of the most incredible destinations you've ever seen. Although the hike requires a decent amount of skill, it'll all be worth it upon seeing the domed pour-off known as the Golden Cathedral, where water from the canyon's Escalante River has formed extraordinary pothole arches. Hike on clear day to watch sun pour through the formation's three openings.
Virginia: Mabry Mill
Located off the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 176.1, Mabry Mill stands rustic and proud — and rightfully so, as the location is perhaps one of the most-photographed in America. The historic mill, built by Edwin Boston Mabry in the 1800s, has been restored so visitors can enjoy live exhibits and demonstrations of the milling process. During summer Sunday afternoons, the mill also comes alive with musicians and dancers.
Vermont: Stowe
Settled among forest, fields, streams as well as Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in the Vermont, Stowe, is the perfect resort destination for those wanting to escape to a tiny New England town. Visit Stowe for recreation (think mountain biking in the summer, and skiing and snowboarding in the winter), relaxation, and a number of festivals.
Washington: Naches Peak Loop Trail and Tipsoo Lake
This popular alpine hiking trail is a nature lover's dream come true: Wildflower fields, the beautiful Tipsoo Lake, and a striking view of Washington's Mount Rainier all greet hikers along the Naches Peak Loop. Late-summer visitors will find more blue lupine, white bistort, and magenta paintbrush than those who visit at any other time of year.
Wisconsin: Ice Caves
Who knew these fantastical ice caves could be found right in Wisconsin's Apostle Islands? Although the ice doesn't grow strong enough for sightseers to hike out to them every year (this year, for example, hiking is prohibited), the formations that do grow during the coldest years are impressive. Make a trip out to the Mainland Unit of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore after an especially chilly winter.
West Virginia: The Greenbrier
At The Greenbrier in the mountains of West Virginia, a National Historic Landmark meets a world-class resort. The gorgeous 11,000-acre resort, which has hosted guests since 1778, offers golf, fine dining, outdoor activities, a luxurious spa — and has even played host to 26 of our 44 presidents.
Wyoming: Grand Prismatic Spring
If you have yet to make it out to Yellowstone National Park, let this phenomenal photo be what pushes you to make the trip. The Grand Prismatic Spring, aside from being unbelievably beautiful, is the largest natural hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the entire world.
An American-made must-see list.